State, workers at odds over health care

Jordan Schrader at The (Tacoma) News Tribune writes about tensions between the state and its workers over health insurance coverage.

Gov. Chris Gregoire’s office wants employees to pay a larger share of their health care costs, said Greg Devereux, executive director of the Washington Federation of State Employees.

Workers now pay 12 percent of insurance premiums, and unions offered up a proposal that would keep that ratio intact, according to the federation’s spokesman, Tim Welch. But the state said employees must pay a larger share of premiums — 25 percent — if they want to avoid higher costs at the doctor’s office, such as deductibles and co-pays, Welch said.

The federation said increasing employees’ share from 12 to 25 percent is a nonstarter.

On Thusday Gregoire warned state agencies to prepare for across-the-board cuts of up to 7 percent because tax revenues are down from projections. And for 2011-13, the state is looking at a $3 billion deficit.

Gregoire was asked about the possibility that state workers might be asked to pay more for health care, as well as possible wage freezes. “It’s all on the table,” she said.

Seattle and King County officials have asked their workers to freeze their wages next year, with varying degrees of success. Health insurance will be an issue in King County labor negotations. County workers currently pay no health insurance premiums.